Dr. Brennon Morioka was elected Chairman in December 2013. Dr. Morioka is the General Manager for Electrification of Transportation at Hawaiian Electric Company. Prior to this position, Dr. Morioka was Deputy Executive Director of the Honolulu Authority of Rapid Transportation (HART), Vice President of CH2MHill, Director of the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation and had been the Highways Division deputy director. In 2007, Governor Lingle appointed him director to oversee and manage the state’s 15 airports, 10 commercial harbors and approximately 2,500 lane miles of roadway across Hawaii.

Under his leadership, the Airports Division implemented a $2.3 billion Airports Modernization Plan that will increase efficiencies, enhance airport security and improve the traveler experience. The Harbors Division is also moving forward on a $618 million Harbors Modernization Plan, which is highly significant since Hawaii imports 80 percent of all goods consumed and 98 percent of these goods enters the state’s harbors. Morioka also spent the past legislative sessions advocating for a $4 billion Highways Modernization Plan for a much-needed upgrade to the state’s roadway system.

Over the years, Morioka has been recognized for his outstanding leadership, hard work and dedication to the engineering profession and the community. He was among Pacific Business News’ Forty Under Forty and also received numerous awards including the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Civil Government Award, Bike to Work Award, Complete Streets Hero Award and the State of Hawaii’s Young Engineer of the Year Award.

Morioka received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and is also an Iolani School graduate.